Washington's opposition to a gas pipeline connecting Russia and Germany has never made sense, writes foreignpolicy.com. The Donald Trump administration has emphasized its separation from its predecessors in energy policy, but at least one aspect has been entirely continuous: its ardent opposition to the Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline from Russia to Germany.

Russia stationed nuclear-capable Iskander missiles in its Kaliningrad region on January 5th and intends to leave them there permanently, Lithuania's defense minister and the president said, cites LETA/BNS.

The expert commission for state environmental expert review (SEER) under the Russian Federal Service for Supervision of Natural Resource Use (Rosprirodnadzor) issued a positive conclusion on the project documentation for the Nord Stream 2 Pipeline in Russia. The expert commission concluded that implementation of the project in Russia is feasible and compliant with Russian environmental requirements, informed BC Nord Stream’s press service.

Crimea is part of Ukraine, regardless of annexation of the peninsula by Russia four years ago, Lithuania's Constitutional Court chairman Dainius Zalimas said at a meeting with Crimea's Tatars in Kiev, informs LETA/BNS.

Circular economy for modern growth: EU and the Baltics EU’s circular economy plans are aimed at efficient use of natural resources and raw materials, waste disposal, while fostering energy savings and reducing CO2. Adequate actions in the Baltic States would contribute to “closing the loop” of product lifecycles through greater recycling and re-use, while bringing benefits to environment, business and economic growth.